Jawaharlal Nehru was India’s first prime minister after the country became independent in 1947. A longtime activist for Indian independence, he was imprisoned eight times over the course of 24 years. Nehru often described British rule as perpetuating a climate of fear, and he sought to give citizens relief from the years of political turmoil. He spearheaded social reforms, brought widespread industrialization to India, and emphasized community and social responsibility. His words here remind us that fear can blind us to the reality in front of us, and we can achieve great things by not letting fear win.